Joseph McDaniels, Sex Trafficking, Shoreline WA, 2023

SHORELINE, Wash. – The grim tale of exploitation has come to an end as Joseph McDaniels, 43, faces a decade behind bars for his heinous crimes of sex trafficking. Sentenced today in U.S. District Court, McDaniels was found guilty of interstate transportation of a woman, aged 22, for the purposes of prostitution.

The judge, James L. Robart, handed down a severe penalty: ten years in prison followed by three years of supervised release, which includes strict registration under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, mandatory treatment for sexual deviancy, and stringent monitoring over McDaniels’ computer usage and interaction with minors.

McDaniels admitted to forcing the woman into commercial sex acts between August 2011 and April 2012. The court documents reveal a pattern of coercion, fraud, and force that spanned across Washington state and Oregon. His predatory behavior preyed on the young woman’s drug addiction, turning her into his sex trafficking victim.

After meeting McDaniels in early 2011, just months after serving a 15-year sentence for robbery, the woman was coerced into acts of prostitution. McDaniels not only extorted all her earnings but also provided drugs to maintain his control over her. In December 2011, he assaulted her and faced charges, yet continued his criminal endeavors.

Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez condemned the exploitation, vowing that such despicable acts will be prosecuted with vigor. U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan emphasized their commitment to combating human trafficking in western Washington, highlighting the collaborative efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement.

This harrowing case was meticulously investigated by the Kent Police Department, Auburn Police Department, and the FBI’s Innocence Lost Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ye-Ting Woo and Trial Attorney Daniel H. Weiss from the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit led the prosecution.